# NTSB CHI01LA200: Cessna 175, N103DL, Tomahawk, WI, July 8, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 8, 2001, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Tomahawk, WI - Coordinates: 45.469402, -89.719917 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.4694&lon=-89.7199&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 23, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 53266 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI01LA200 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53266/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI01LA200 ## Probable cause The inadequate preflight preparation that did not include calculating the density altitude and the pilot not maintaining clearance from the second row of trees on initial climb. Factors include those trees and the high density altitude present at the time of the accident. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane sustained substantial damage on impact with trees during initial climb. The pilot and two passengers were uninjured. The pilot aborted two takeoffs. The pilot indicated, "This time I changed my route to get a longer run (3). I step taxied to the southwest corner of the lake accelerating to the east and departed to the north to maximize the length of my takeoff run. This time I lifted off cleanly with good airspeed. Initially I climbed well, but after a bit my climb rate slowed. At a point several hundred yards from shore I realized I may not clear the trees. I did not feel I had enough room to safely turn the aircraft back, so I elected to maintain my direction and increase my angle of attack little by little to try to clear the trees and keep the aircraft flying. I cleared the first row of trees, but dragged my left float through a tree top at which point the aircraft stalled falling off to the left, striking a tree with my left float. The aircraft slide down this same tree coming to rest at its base." The pilot listed no "mechanical malfunction failure" on his statement. At 2055, density altitude was 3,705 feet above mean sea level. The pilot's safety recommendation was, "Less weight, cooler outside temp, better wind." The pilot stated that he did not perform a density altitude calculation prior the the accident flight. ## Factual narrative On July 8, 2001, about 1500 central daylight time, a Cessna 175, N103DL, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage on impact with trees on initial climbout from Dear Lake, near Tomahawk, Wisconsin. The personal flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was on file. The pilot and two passengers reported no injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident and was destined for Ham Lake, Minnesota. The pilot's written statement stated, "Because the wind was light I decided to put aircraft on the step heading south and do a step turn heading north. I aborted this first takeoff attempt early, because I did not use enough lake and knew I would not have enough room to takeoff (1). I kept aircraft on the step followed the east shoreline south turning aircraft north again and accelerated for takeoff. This time I lifted aircraft off water at too low of an airspeed. Realizing that I could not accelerate and climb out in time I aborted this attempt (2). I set the aircraft back down on the water keeping it on the step. This time I changed my route to get a longer run (3). I step taxied to the southwest corner of the lake accelerating to the east and departed to the north to maximize the length of my takeoff run. This time I lifted off cleanly with good airspeed. Initially I climbed well, but after a bit my climb rate slowed. At a point several hundred yards from shore I realized I may not clear the trees. I did not feel I had enough room to safely turn the aircraft back, so I elected to maintain my direction and increase my angle of attack little by little to try to clear the trees and keep the aircraft flying. I cleared the first row of trees, but dragged my left float through a tree top at which point the aircraft stalled falling off to the left, striking a tree with my left float. The aircraft slide down this same tree coming to rest at its base." The pilot listed no "mechanical malfunction failure" on his statement. (See appended statement and sketch.) At 1455, the Merrill Municipal Airport (RRL), near Merrill, Wisconsin, weather was: Wind 270 degrees at 7 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition broken 6,000 feet broken 7,000 feet; temperature 32 degrees C; dew point 18 degrees C; altimeter 29.87 inches of mercury. At 1455, density altitude at RRL was 3,705 feet above mean sea level. The pilot's safety recommendation was, "Less weight, cooler outside temp, better wind." The pilot stated that he did not perform a density altitude calculation prior the the accident flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N103DL](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N103DL), registered now, S/N 55913 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 175 - Registry model: [Cessna 175](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-175) (registry code 2072502) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental GO-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-go-300-series) (registry code 17024, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 55913 - Airframe hours: 3190 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Daniel J. Kedrowski - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 2000, 46 hours before - Departed: Tomahawk, WI - Destination: Ham Lake, MN ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review June 1, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 1,126 total, 296 in this make and model, 970 as pilot in command, 43 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: RRL, 17 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20010708018699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010708018699A), Jul 8, 2001: Cessna 175, Tomahawk, WI, No damage. (.19) On July 8, 2001, about 1454 central daylight time, a Cessna 175, N103DL, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage on impact with trees on… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.